Use rock or gravel mulch within 1.5 metres of the house
Bark mulch and shredded cedar look tidy but they ignite from embers and smoulder for hours, often unnoticed against a wall or under a deck. FireSmart...
Bark mulch and shredded cedar look tidy but they ignite from embers and smoulder for hours, often unnoticed against a wall or under a deck. FireSmart and Firewise USA both tell homeowners to clear vegetation and combustible material down to mineral soil in the first 1.5 metres (about five feet) around the house and cover that strip with non-combustible material such as gravel, brick or concrete. River rock, crushed gravel, paving stones and bare mineral soil all qualify. Beyond that strip, organic mulches are still risky in the 1.5–10 metre zone and fire-safety programs specifically recommend removing woody debris and bark mulch from that band as well. If you want a softer look closer to the foundation, low-growing fire-resistant ground covers like stonecrop or rock soapwort act as a living mulch without adding flammable litter. Whatever material you choose, keep it pulled back from siding, deck posts and gas meters by a few centimetres so embers landing in the gap cannot make contact with paint, vinyl or wood. Replace or refresh non-combustible mulch when blown-in needles or leaves accumulate on top of it.
Bark mulch can smoulder for hours after catching an ember — and the smouldering often goes unnoticed until flames reach siding or a deck post.
Source: FireSmart BC — Home Ignition Zone
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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